Switchboard-plug.



x 0. A. SPENCER. SWITCHBOARD PLUG.

APPLIOAVTION FILED Nov. a, 1910.

1,004,306.A Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

OSCAR A. SPENCER, OF

.PATENT oEEIcE.

BLOOMER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOSEPHG.

PRUEHER AND HAROLD E. MCWITHEY.

SWITCHBOARD-PLUG.

Specification of Letters.' Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, l1911.

Application ledNvembeT 8, 1910. Serial No. :591,368.

To all .whomft may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR A. SPENCER, citizen vof the United States, residing at Bloomer, inthe county of Chippewa and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switchboard-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in` the plugs employed intelephone and similar switch boards, and-has for oneI of its objects A toV simplify and im rove the construction andincrease the efficiency .and utility of devices of this character.

Another objectofthe invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character in which means are provided for firmly clamping the conductor wire to the 'body ofthe plug and likewise coupling the plug tip thereto, the conductorfand the tip being arranged .for independent connection to the body of the plug.

v Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby conductor wires of different sizes may be con-s nected 'thereto without change in the struc? ture,.and als to permit the -wire to be cut oil' and recoupled an indenite number of times without any. change inthe structure of the device. Y

Another object of the invention is to pro-z vide a device of this character wherein allof the parts are readily accessible for ad;

and the grooves 17 -18 thus co-act to projustment, renewal, or repair.

With these and other "objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and de- "scribed and then specifically pointed out in Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse ysection on the line 1 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is'a rear elevation of the improved device with the conductor wire in transverse'section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views o the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises a hollow body formed in two sections, a main section `10 and a clamping -section 11. The main section y10 is provided with a tip receiving socket 12 extending from one end and with the portion next to the socket cylindrical in outline, as shown at 14, and with sockets 15, as shown. The member 11 conforms substantially in outline to the main portion 10, and bears thereon and thus completes the circle or produces a complete body substantially in circular form. The portion 11 of the body is provided with tongues 16 at one end which conform to and are adapted to engage in the recesses 15 of the main'body portion 10. The portion 11 is tapered or reduced in size toward the end opposite the tongues 16 and is provided at the reduced end with a series of semi-circular rooves, indicated at 17, while the main bo y portion 10 is likewise rovided with semi-circular grooves 18 which are located opposite the grooves 17. The two sets of grooves form roughened or irregular surfaces which materially increase the grip and thus assist in holding the conductor cord in position.

The body portion 10 is provided with laterally directed ears 20, while the body por 5 22 by which the two parts 10-11 are firmly coupled, and means likewise provided for applying a clamping strain upon the conductor cord. The Aears 21, clamp screws 22,

duce an eective clam device which firmly holds the cord in posltion and bears upon the insulation 19, and by reducing the size of the portion 11 at one end the latter is readily adjustable to cords of different sizes, as will be obvious, without change of structure of the device. The tongue 16 and the recesses 15 co-act to retain the two parts 10-.11 firmly in coupled position. The portion 11 of the body is likewise provided with a relatively large opening 25, the object to be hereafter explained.

The plug tip comprises a stem 26 for insertion into the socket 12 and with a barbed terminal 27 to engage in the contact members of the board in the usual manner. The socket 12 is provided with a non-conducting sleeve of hard rubber or the like, and represented at 28, and located between the stem 26 and the socket 12, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the stem 26 is threaded, as

lat-ing sleeve 28 andthe stop member 30 isk a stop ring 31 of suitable insulating material, such as hard rubber, and' surrounding the member 30 is another sleeve 32 of suitable insulating material. By this means the stem 26, with the barbed terminal 27, is firmly clamped within the body 10 and likel wise electually insulated therefrom. The inner end of' the member 30 is' reduced as shown at 33 and provided with a binding screw 34 whereby the wire 19 is coupled to the member 30 and thence tothe stem 26 and its barbed tip 27. The other wire 19 is bent back between the insulation 19 and the member 10 or llas the case may be, and thus contacts with the body of the sleeve l 12. The aperture 25 is so located that the binding screw 34 is accessible therethrough,

this being the function of the opening 25. Surrounding the body 10-11 when thus united is a protectingsleeve 36 of suitable insulating material, this outer sleeve being provided with recesses 37 for receiving the ears 20w-21, as shown.

The cords or conductors employed in connection with switch boardsand like devices vary considerably in size, hence the `advantage of providing a device which is adapted to the different sizes of cords or Wires without structural change therein, and by arrangingthe portion 11 of the body of re duced size at one end and arranging for clamping the two parts of the body together, the device is readily adapted to the various sizes of cords, las will be obvious. When a new cord or conductor wire is to be inserted, or the device tightened upon a-cord lwhich has worked loose, the screws 22 are' simply tightened with an ordinary screw driver and Without detaching vany of the parts. The parts .are readily dismembered when required, so that a worn or impaired portion may be replacedwithout discarding the remainder of the device. If required -the insulated sleeve 36 may be retained in position by a screw, represented at 35. -v

n o I I l Switch board conductor wires or cords genof any suitable material, but generally the -two parts 10-11,the stem 26 with its barbed terminal 27,' and the stop member 30 will preferably be of brass, but may be of other material if required. The screws 22 and 34 are preferably of steel to insure greater durability.

Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. A switch board plug comprising a hollow body divided into two parts longitudinally with one of the parts tapered toward one end, a casing inclosing said body, means for detachably coupling said tapered body portion at its larger end to the other body portion, a plug tip between said body portions at said coupled ends, 4means for cou-V pling one of the conductor wires to said plug tip, and clamping means applied to the body portions at their smaller ends, whereby sai body portions may be vcompressed upon the conductor cord without displacing the casing.

2T A switch board plug comprising a main body portion having a plug tip socket at one end and a half socket'for a conductor wire at the other end, another body portion having an opening and with an opposing half socket for a conductor wire at one end,

means for compressing the body portions I together to form a clamp for holding'a con'- ductor cord, a plug tip engaging s ald tip socket, a stop member engaging sa1d plug tip within the body,L and a Wire binding means carried by said stop and accessible through said opening. In testimony whereof,I aiixA my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR A. SPENCER. [1.. s] Witnesses:

J. G.- PRUEHER, ADAM MoHN. 

